hen MCC's Bedford campuswas under construction in theearly 1990s, the late WilliamHenry Waite Sr., a well-

known local contractor, had more thana professional interest in the project.

In the late 1800s, Waite's grandfatherhad managed the 200-acre propertywhen it was a "gentleman's farm." Andin 1892, his father was born in thefarmhouse that still stands on campustoday.

"I put more miles on my car while thatcampus was under construction," saidJoan Waite, William's widow. "WithBill's family connection ­ and being inthe construction business himself ­ wewere very interested in the wholeproject," she said.

The Waite family's link to the propertybegan with Irving Charles Waite, whomoved his wife and three children fromLynn to Bedford in the late 1800s. Hehad been hired by the McCurder familyto manage their farm, according to PaulWaite, William's older brother and thefamily historian. Now 87 and living inFlorida, Paul (and William) grew up inBedford on Springs Road near what isnow MCC's Bedford campus.

"I remember my grandfather, Irving

Waite, when I was a child," said Paul ina telephone interview, "but he had leftthe farm by the time I was born in1924. Irving managed the farm for theMcCurders, a wealthy family thatowned a fuel, coal and grain companyin Boston," he said.